Machine for stripping and crushing grape-berries.



PAT'ENTED SEPT. 13, 1904.

I B. BAGH. MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND GRUSHING GRAPE BERRIES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27', 1904.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

2X 5 (2 fii 29 a lr- ,7 I J5. f l 5 J PATENTED SEPT. 13

REACH. v MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND GRUSHING GRAPE BERRIES.

APPLICATION IILED APR. 27, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

$51 mtozmew; I

Patented September 13, 1904.

UNTTED STATES PATENT QEETEE.

EMIL BACH, OF HEILBRONN, GERMANY.

MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND CRUSHING GRAPE-BERRIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,038, datedSeptember 13, 1904.

Application filed April 2'7, 1904. Serial No. 205,198. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL BACH, a citizen of the Empire of Germany,residing in Heilbronn, in the Kingdom of Wi'irtemberg and Empire ofGermany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinesfor Stripping and Crushing Grape-Berries, of which the following is aspecification.

In the machines for stripping grape-berries heretofore in use rotarystirrers are employed which are applied to a horizontal shaft and bywhich the berries are stripped and forced through a screen, while thecombs are ejected from the machine. These machines have the disadvantagethat the grapes fed to the machine have to be taken hold of by therotating stirrers during the dropping in of the same and that they haveto be acted upon for a sufficient distance by the stirrers for properlystripping off the berries. Furthermore, the stirrers have to be rotatedat considerable speed, for as soon as the speed is decreased the grapesare dropped through between the stirrers and the berries moved only inan imperfect manner from the combs during the short time in which thegrapes are subjected to the action of the stirrers. Another disadvantageof the machines heretofore in use is that they possess a certain degreeof instability, owing to the fact that the moving masses are arranged atsome distance above the screen. These disadvantages have prevented themore general introduction of these grape stripping and crushingmachines.

The object of this invention is to furnish a machine by which theobjections referred to are obviated and the stripping off of thegrape-berries from their combs and the crushing of the former isaccomplished in a more effective and reliable manner; and for thispurpose the invention consists of a machine for stripping and crushinggrape berries which comprises acylindrical casing provided withinwardly-projecting ledges, a rotary plat,- form having upright vanesinclined at their outer edges, and means for ejecting the combs.

The invention consists, further, of a grape stripping and crushingmachine in which the berries after being stripped from their combs arepassed through a circumferential space formed between the corrugatedcircumferential flange of the platform and a stationary corrugated ringat the lower part of the easing, so that the berries are delivered incrushed condition at the lower circumference of the casing; and theinvention consists, lastly, of a' machine for stripping and crushinggrapeberries in which the rotating platform is provided below itscorrugated circumferential flange with brushes that move over thecorrugated rim of the casing for assisting in crushing the berries andremoving them from the space between the corrugated circumference of theplatform and the corrugated ring on the casing.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical centralsection of my improved machine for removing grape-berries from theircombs. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in horizontal section, on line 2 2,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 with a portion of the upperpart of the casing broken off. Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3; andFigs. 5 and 6 are detail vertical sections through the lower part of thecasing and platform on line 5 5, Fig. 2, showing the brushes at thecircumference of the platform for crushing the berries and removing themfrom the corrugated rim of the casing.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, (4 represents a cylindrical casing which isdivided by a hori zontal partition 0 into an upper and a lowercompartment. The partition cis supported on arc-shaped angle-irons 0,attached to the interior of the casing, and transverse angleirons cconnecting the ends of the arc-shaped angle-ironso. (ShowninFigs.1and2.)The upper compartment of the casing serves for receiving the grapes tobe stripped and crushed and is connected by an opening 0 in thepartition 0 with the lower compartment. The opening 0 is covered by ahood d. In the lower compartment is arranged a rotary ring-shapedplatform 0, to which are attached by angleirons upright vanes f, thatextend at a slight angle of inclination to the vertical axis of thecasing toward the casing 60, said vanes being provided withinclinedserrated or toothed edges, as shown in Fig. 5. The platform 0 issupported on a disk-shaped center portion e the hub of which is keyed toan upright shaft Z, that is supported in suitable step and neck bearingsof a tubular center post Z), said shaft receiving rotary motion by abevel-gear transmission Z b from a shaft .9, the inner end of whichturns in journal-bearings Z on said center post and the outer end ofwhich turns in journal-bearings b on the casing a, as shown in Fig. 1. Acollar 6 on the shaft .9 holds the same in position in the bearings Z 5The horizontal shaft 8 is provided with a crank-handle s at its outerend for rotating the shaft 8 and imparting by the bevel-geartransmission 6 Z rotary motion to the ring-shaped platform a. Thebevel-gears Z Z are inclosed by a sheetmetalcover or hood 2'. (Shown inFigs. 1 and 3.) The interior cylinder g is made concentric with thecasing a and forms, with the movable vanes supported on the platform 0,pockets into which the grapes are dropped and in which they are moved bycentrifugal force in outward direction toward the circumference of thecasing a. To the lower inside por tion of the casing a are attachedstationary toothed ledges h or alternate toothed and straight ledges it,as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Both the ledges l1 and hare arranged at theirinner edges With the same inclination as the outer edges of the vanes f,so that the vanes can readily pass the ledges without interference. Theyserve for the purpose of removing or stripping the berries from theircombs, which latter are driven in outward direction through an openingin the circumference of the casing onto and over a chute 70, from whichthe combs are dropped into a suitable receptacle. The berries areconducted from the circumference of the rotary platform a through anarrow annular space formed between the corrugated circumferentialflange Z of the platform a and a corrugated ring m, attachedconcentrically with the flange Z to the lower part of the casing, so asto be crushed by the joint action of the corrugated flange Z and ring m.

' For the purpose of increasing the crushing and squeezing action on theberries and also for removing the skins adhering to the corrugated ringm radial brushes n are arranged on a rim at the under side of theplatform 0 below the corrugated flange Z, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6,said brushes being made almost as high as the corrugated ring m of theeasing, so that one or more brushes can be arranged thereon, which sweepover the corrugations of the ring m. The brushes can be made of ordinarybristles or metallic bristles and can be so arranged as to be adjustablefrom time to time as the bristles are gradually worn ofl. By thestripping action of the vanes and toothed ledges on the grapes and thecrushing action of the corrugated circumferential flange of the platformand the corrugated ring on the casing and by the action of the brusheson the platform the berries are delivered in a perfectly-crushed andopenedup condition into the vat on which the ma chine is supported,while the combs are conducted off over the chute 7a..

In the improved machine hereinbefore described the grapes are subjectedto a stripping and crushing action for nearly threequarters of thecircumference of the casing, while with the machines heretofore in useonly one-half thecircumference of the casing can be utilized forstripping and crushing the berries.

The machine can be operated by one attendant, who turns the crank andsupplies the required quantity of grapes to be stripped and crushed, orit can be operated by a belt-andpulley transmission applied to thedrivin shaft 8, as desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A grape stripping and crushing machine, consistingof a cylindrical casing, means for feeding the grapes in the upper partof the casing, a rotary ring-shaped platform in the lower part of thesame, upright vanes supported on said platform and extending toward thecircumference of the casing, said vanes being provided with inclinedouter edges, stationary ledges on the inner circumference of the casinghaving inclined edges corresponding to the edges of the vanes, and achute connected with an opening in the circumference of the casing forejecting the stripped combs, substantially as set forth.

2. A grape stripping and crushing machine, consisting of a cylindricalcasing, means for feeding the grapes located in the upper part of thecasing, a rotary ring-shaped platform in the lower part of the same,upright vanes supported on said platform and extending toward thecircumference of the casing, said vanes being provided alternately withinclined and toothed edges, stationary inclined and toothed ledges onthe inner circumference of the casing adjacent to the inclined edges ofthe vanes, and a chute connected with an opening in the circumference ofthe casing for ejecting the stripped combs, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for stripping and crushing grapes, the combination witha casing having inwardly-projecting upright ledges, of a rotary platformprovided with upright vanes cooperating with said ledges, acorrugatedflange depending from the circumference of said platform, a corrugatedring fixed to said casing below said ledges and cooperating with saidcorrugated flange, and means for feeding the grapes to said platform,substantially as set forth.

4:. In a machine for stripping and crushing grapes, the combination,with a casing having inwardly-projecting upright ledges, of a rotaryplatform provided with upright vanes,

means for feeding the grapes to said platform, In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as a corrugated flange at the circumference of myinvention I have signed my name in presthe platform, brushes attached tothe under ence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

side of the platform below the corrugated EMIL BACH. flange, and astationary corrugated ring at the Witnesses:

lower part of the casing encircling said flange SIEGFRED FELs, andbrushes, substantially as set forth. I ERNST ENTENMAN.

